Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

chirp

/t͡ʃɚp/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.79 in modern English

Syllables
chirp
IPA
/t͡ʃɚp/
12
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A short, sharp or high note or noise, as of a bird or insect.

noun

A pulse of signal whose frequency sweeps through a band of frequencies for the duration of the pulse; the quality of having a such a variation in frequency.

verb

To make a short, sharp, cheerful note, as of small birds or crickets; to chitter; to twitter.

Intransitive verb

verb

To speak in a high-pitched staccato.

Intransitive verb

verb

To modify (a pulse of signal) so that it sweeps through a band of frequencies throughout its duration.

Transitive verb

verb

To cheer up; to make (someone) happier.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To speak rapid insulting comical banter back and forth; to bicker or argue.

Canadian usage

verb

To inform on someone; snitch.

British usage; Obsolete; Slang

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English *chirpen (attested only in the derivative Middle English chirpinge, cyrpynge, chyrypynge (“chirping”). Compare Middle English chirken and chirmen. More at chirk, chirm. Compare also Middle English chirten (“to smack, chirrup”). Compare German zirpen and Dutch tjirpen.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /t͡ʃɚp/
  • British English: /t͡ʃɜːp/

Usage

Inflected Forms

chirps (plural) chirps (present, singular) chirping (participle, present) chirped (participle, past) chirped (past)

Derived Forms

chirplet chirpy dechirp downchirp gammachirp interchirp upchirp chirper chirping chirpingly unchirped

Phrases

chirped-pulse amplification chirping chips chirping cup spotted chirping frog

Frequently Paired Words

cheep chirrup peep

Synonyms

peep cheep chirrup tweedle

Rhymes With

burp earp usurp slurp serpe perp derp twerp purp herp terp twirp

Questions

How do you pronounce chirp?
The recorded pronunciation is /t͡ʃɚp/.
What does chirp mean?
A short, sharp or high note or noise, as of a bird or insect.
Where does chirp come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce chirp

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “chirp”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/t͡ʃɚp/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “chirp”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “chirp” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.